Differences Between Allopathic and Osteopathic Medicine

Differences Between Allopathic and Osteopathic Medicine There are two basic types of medical training: allopathic and osteopathic. The traditional medical degree, the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), requires training in allopathic medicine while osteopathic medical schools award the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree. Students hoping to achieve either degree attend medical schools and receive substantial training (4 years, not including residency), and other than the osteopathic students ability to administer osteopathic medicine, there is no real marked difference between the two programs. Training The curricula of both schools are similar. State licensing agencies and most hospitals and residency programs recognize the degrees as equivalent. In other words, osteopathic doctors are legally and professionally equivalent to allopathic doctors. The important difference between the two types of schools of training is that osteopathic medical schools take a holistic perspective on the practice of medicine based on a belief in treating the whole patient (mind-body-spirit) and the primacy of the musculoskeletal system in human health and the utility of osteopathic manipulative treatment. D.O. recipients emphasize prevention, a historical distinction which is less relevant as all of the medicine increasingly emphasizes prevention. Biomedical and clinical sciences take the forefront of both degrees training programs, requiring students of both fields to complete relatively the same course load (anatomy, microbiology, pathology, etc), but the osteopathic student additionally takes courses focused on hands-on manual medicine, including an additional 300-500 hours of study in manipulating the musculoskeletal system, a practice referred to as osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM). Admissions and Enrollment There are fewer D.O. programs than M.D. programs in the United States with about 20% of medical students entering D.O. programs each year. As compared with traditional medical school, osteopathic medical schools have a reputation for looking at the applicant, not just his or her statistics, and therefore likely to admit nontraditional applicants who are older, non-science majors or seeking a second career. The average GPA and MCAT scores for incoming students are slightly lower in osteopathic programs, but the difference is rapidly falling. The average age of entering osteopathic students is about 26 years (versus allopathic medical schools 24). Both require an undergraduate degree and basic science coursework before applying. Practicing osteopathic physicians make up seven percent of the United States medical physicians with over 96,000 practicing currently in the country. With enrollment in D.O. programs increasing steadily since 2007, though, it is expected that these numbers will climb in the coming years and more private practices will open that focus on this field of medicine.   The Real Difference The main disadvantage of choosing osteopathic medicine is that that you may find yourself educating patients and colleagues about your degree and credentials (i.e., that a D.O. is the equivalent of an M.D.). Otherwise, both receive the same level of legal benefits and are fully accredited to practice in the United States. Essentially, if you are hoping to choose between the two fields of study, you really just need to evaluate whether or not you believe in a more holistic, hands-on approach to medicine or the more traditional route of becoming a Doctor of Medicine. Either way, though, youll be a physician after completing your medical school degree and residency programs.

What Does a Home Health Aide Do

What Does a Home Health Aide Do If you’re looking for a highly sought after, exceptionally stable job in the growing field of healthcare, you’ve come to the right place: home health aides are poised for remarkable success in the years ahead. Not sure whether a career as a home health aide is right for you? Read on to learn everything you need to know about this important job. The 411 on Home Health AidesHome health aides offer a variety of assistance to people with special needs, including those who are cognitively impaired, chronically ill, or disabled. They also care for seniors in need of assistance. Depending on the particular job, the responsibilities of home health aides include everything from helping clients with personal hygiene tasks and checking vital signs to shopping, light housekeeping, and arranging for transportation. Home health aides also offer another vital service to the people for whom they care: companionship.Unlike personal care aides who may be directly employed by their client s, home health aides usually work for agencies. With specialized training, home health aides may also provide simple medical care, such as administering medication and working with ventilators, although these functions must be performed under the direct supervision of a registered nurse or other trained healthcare professional.Home health aides also play a vital role in the continuum of care. Not only do they track the condition and progress of their clients, but they are also tasked with reporting any changes to a client’s physical, mental or emotional state. This can help ensure that they receive the treatment they need as it arises.Why Become a Home Health Aide?With a projected growth rate of 48 percent between 2012 and 2022, home health aide positions offer unprecedented job security with a minimal investment of time and training. In fact, there are no formal education requirements to work in this field, although some employers - typically certified home health and hospi ce agencies - do require that employees undergo formal training and are certified by the National Association for Home Care Hospice.While you may not need a college degree, some other attributes are particularly important when it comes to working as a home health aide. These healthcare workers are detail oriented, skilled at time management, and have strong people skills. They should also be comfortable with performing physical tasks, as clients who are disabled may need to be lifted or turned.And while the current salary for a home health aide is relatively low at $20,820 a year, as demand continues to skyrocket due to the aging â€Å"Baby Boomer† population and their increasing preference for â€Å"aging in place,† so is the potential that salaries will rise in relationship to demand.Coming in behind industrial-organized psychologists (53 percent growth) and personal care aides (49 percent growth), home health aides claim the third spot on the U.S. Department of La bor’s list of the â€Å"10 Fastest Growing Jobs.† For many people, the combination of job security and the chance to make a difference in the lives of others adds up to a career that doesn’t just offer financial stability, but also professional fulfillment.